Technical Knowledge and Skills - Continued

DOE-STD-3015-2004

Radiation shielding

Yield-select mechanisms

Release mechanisms

NESSG chairs and other members must have knowledge of the U.S. stockpile.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

Find and discuss authoritative descriptions of weapons in the stockpile.

NESSG chairs and other members must have knowledge of high explosives and their

applicability in nuclear explosives.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Discuss the difference between IHEs and conventional high explosives (CHEs) used in

nuclear explosives.

b. Describe the function of primary and secondary explosives in nuclear explosive design.

c. Discuss and compare the effects of the following interrelated high-explosive terms that

apply to nuclear explosive design:

Detonations

High explosive violent reactions

Deflagration

Combustion

d. Describe the response of high explosives used in nuclear explosive design to the

following external stimuli:

Mechanical

Electrical

Thermal

e. Discuss the effects of aging on the high-explosive materials used in nuclear explosive

design.

10. NESSG chairs and other members must have knowledge of detonators.

Supporting Knowledge and/or Skills

a. Describe the main-charge detonators used in nuclear weapons, including the principles

of operation, overall design, operating thresholds, and aging characteristics.

b. Describe the following detonator types:

Exploding bridge wire

Hot wire

Slapper

A-11